Mirror-based audio system for a vehicle

ABSTRACT

A mirror-based audio system for a vehicle comprises an interior rearview mirror system including a plurality of microphones for receiving audio signals within a cabin of the vehicle. The plurality of microphones comprise at least two microphones which generate output signals indicative of sound generated within the vehicle cabin. The at least two microphones are (i) positioned within an interior rearview mirror assembly, (ii) positioned adjacent to an interior rearview mirror assembly, (iii) positioned in an attachment to an interior rearview mirror assembly, or (iv) positioned within a module mounted to the windshield. The audio system further includes a control which is operable to distinguish the presence of vocal signals versus non-vocal signals and to at least partially filter out the non-vocal signals.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. pat. application, Ser. No.09/396,179, filed Sep. 14, 1999 by Jonathan E. DeLine et al., entitledINDICATOR FOR VEHICLE ACCESSORY, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,278,377, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. pat. application, Ser. No. 09/382,720,filed Aug. 25, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,003, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an indicator for a vehicleaccessory and, more particularly, to an indicator for a microphone foruse in receiving an audio signal within a vehicle.

Many vehicles today use hands-free cellular telephones or othercommunication devices to avoid problems which may arise when a driver ofa vehicle has to hold a telephone while driving the vehicle. Thesehand-free devices include a microphone to receive an audio signal fromwithin the vehicle. It is known to include directional or polarmicrophones in these devices, which constrain the area covered by themicrophone to an area where voices would typically originate, such as adriver's head area. In certain applications, these microphones areimplemented in an interior rearview mirror, such that the microphone ispositioned in front of the driver and at approximately the same level asthe head of the driver. However, the location of the mirror may be at adistance which is beyond the optimal operative range of the microphone,due to the forward slant of the windshield away from the driver and thelocation at which the mirror is mounted thereto. Furthermore, rearviewmirrors are adjustable to account for different sized drivers, which mayresult in the microphone being directed away from the head of the driveror other occupants, and thus receiving other noises from within thecabin of the vehicle.

An additional issue with known mirror-mounted microphones (such asinterior rearview mirror assemblies with a microphone located within themovable mirror housing and/or the mirror mounting bracket, such as aheader mounting bracket) is that typically, audio or communicationdevices in vehicles are optional. Accordingly, separate mirror housingsand wiring bundles or harnesses are required to accommodate the standardmirror and the optional mirror which includes the microphone or otheraccessories such as a vehicle alarm status indicator. This leads to aproliferation of parts within the vehicle assembly plants, which furtherresults in increased costs to the vehicle.

Many vehicles which offer hands-free communication devices mount themicrophones in a headliner console rearward of the windshield and alongthe ceiling of the interior cabin of the vehicle. By mounting themicrophones in the headliner console, the microphones may be in asubstantially fixed position and directed toward the driver head areawithin the vehicle. However, this positions the microphone substantiallyabove the driver where it may not optimally pick up the voice signal ofthe driver, since the driver's voice is directed generally forwardlywhile the driver continues to view the roadway, while the microphone isdirected generally downwardly from the ceiling. Furthermore, locatingthe microphones in a headliner console adds to the vehicle costs, due toadditional installation processes and more costly parts, such asadditional ceiling trim, console components and the like. Also, locatingthe microphone in a headliner console fails to avoid the requirement ofat least two separate headliner consoles to accommodate the optionalmicrophone verses a console without the microphone.

An additional issue with communication devices in vehicles is that whenthe device is in use, the user may not be certain that the messageconveyed is properly received by the other party. This may be especiallytroublesome when the other party is an automated voice system whichresponds to a particular voice communication.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for a microphone which may bemounted generally forwardly of the driver of the vehicle, and fixedlymounted to maintain proper orientation with respect to the driver of thevehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is intended to provide an indicator for amicrophone or accessory module, and preferably for an indicator for amicrophone mounted in, at or on an interior rearview mirror assembly tocomprise part of an interior rearview mirror system. The microphone oraccessory module preferably mounts along an upper, inner edge of thewindshield of a vehicle to direct the microphone, which is preferably apolar or directional microphone, generally downwardly and rearwardlytoward the driver of the vehicle, and most preferably, towards the headof the driver, in order to best pick up vocal communication from thedriver's mouth. The indicator provides an indication signal, preferablya visual indication signal, to the user of the microphone whichindicates whether the voice communication from the user is adequatelybeing received and preferably whether the communication is adequatelybeing discriminated from other audible inputs received by the microphonethat are non-vocal. Thus, the indicator provides an indication signalthat an adequately high vocal signal to audible nonvocal noisediscrimination ratio is occurring. The accessory module is adaptable foruse on a vehicle with a rearview mirror which is separately mounted onthe interior surface of the windshield such as a button mounted rearviewmirror, and may further include a wire cover extending downwardly fromthe module to the mounting button of the rearview mirror. The wire coverfunctions to cover any mirror wiring harness which may connect therearview mirror assembly to a vehicle wiring harness, typically withinthe headliner of the vehicle.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an audio system for avehicle comprises a microphone and an indicator. The vehicle has a cabinand a windshield. The microphone is operable to receive audio signalsfrom within the cabin. The audio signals include vocal signals generatedby the human voices of vehicle occupants. The indicator is operable tocommunicate a receiving status of the audio signals to a user of theaudio system and is adapted to indicate to the driver and/or otheroccupants of the vehicle that a voice generated vocal signal is beingappropriately received by the audio system that the microphone feeds,and that the vocal signal is being appropriately and substantiallydiscriminated compared to other audible non-vocal signals picked up bythe microphone, such as HVAC noise, wind noise, music and the like. Theindicator may communicate a receiving status of the microphone and/or areceiving status of another party remote from the vehicle. Thus, theindicator operates to confirm to the driver that verbalinputs/commands/messages/sentences, as spoken by the driver have beenreceived at the microphone and processed by the audio system withsufficient clarity and volume, such that the verbalinputs/commands/messages/ sentences have been adequately correctlyreceived. This is of particular importance when the driver and/oroccupants of the vehicle are communicating via the microphone/audiosystem in the vehicle via radio transmission to a receiver remote fromthe vehicle. Such remote receivers can provide a variety of servicesthat are selected by and/or are dependent on clear and audible voiceinput received from the vehicular audio system. For example, aconcierge-type service can be provided, whereby a restaurant, address,etc., listing can be provided. Also, the vehicle occupant may be voicecommunicating with an automatic computer based service, such as airlinereservation services and the like, where the driver must select menuitems through verbal input of an alphanumeric (typically a number)input. Lack of clarity and/or volume and/or the presence of noise maylead to an incorrect selection at the remote receiving party,unbeknownst to the vehicle based driver and/or occupant. The indicatorof the present invention thus provides to the driver and/or occupants ofthe vehicle an indication that verbal input to the audio system in thevehicle is being adequately correctly received by the audio system inthe vehicle and/or, more preferably, is being adequately received aftertransmission to the remote receiver. Thus, by having an adequately clearreception by the remote receiver external to the vehicle confirmed backto the vehicular audio system, and by having this indicated to thedriver and/or other occupants by the indicator of the present invention,protection is provided against inadequate communication, even caused byinterference during the transmission from the vehicle to the remotereceiver or receiving party.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an accessorymodule comprises at least one microphone for receiving audio signalsfrom within a cabin of a vehicle, at least one indicator, and a housingfor mounting the microphone. The vehicle includes a windshield, aninterior rearview mirror mounted to an interior surface of thewindshield, and a headliner extending along an upper edge of thewindshield. The indicator is operable to communicate a receiving statusof the audio signals to a user of the audio system. The housing for themicrophone is preferably mountable between the headliner and therearview mirror. The microphone and indicator of the accessory module(and any other accessory housed within the accessory module) areelectronically connectable to a vehicle wiring within the headliner.Preferably, accessories, such as the microphone and the indicator, aredetachably connectable to the vehicle wiring, such as by a plug andsocket connector (for example, a multi-pin electrical plug and socketconnector system), so that the module can be optionally installed to thevehicle with ease. This is particularly advantageous in circumstanceswhen the interior mirror is a non-electrical mirror, such as a baseprismatic mirror.

In one form, the rearview mirror is electronically connected to thevehicle wiring harness. Preferably, the accessory module furtherincludes a wire cover to encase a wire harness between the rearviewmirror and the accessory module. More preferably, the microphone,indicator and mirror are connectable with the vehicle wiring in theheadliner.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an accessorymodule for a vehicle comprises at least one microphone for receivingaudio signals from within a cabin of the vehicle, a microphone housingfor mounting the microphone, and an interior rearview mirror assembly.The vehicle includes a windshield and a headliner extending along anupper, inner edge of the windshield. The microphone is electronicallyconnectable to a vehicle wiring harness within the headliner. Themicrophone housing is mountable to the windshield adjacent to theheadliner. The mirror assembly includes a mirror wire harness and amirror housing. The mirror wire harness is electronically connectable tothe vehicle wiring harness in the headliner. An indicator may beprovided for the audio system to communicate an audio signal receivingstatus to a user of the audio system.

In one form, the mirror assembly further includes a mounting button formounting the mirror assembly to an interior surface of the windshield.The mounting button may be interconnected to the microphone housing viaa wire cover extending between the microphone housing and the mountingbutton and at least partially encasing the mirror wire harness and/orthe mounting button itself. The indicator may be mounted on at least oneof the accessory module, the mirror housing, a module/pod attached tothe mounting button, and the mounting button.

In another form, the microphone housing includes a mirror mounting armwhich extends generally downwardly therefrom. The mirror housing ispivotally interconnected to a lower end of the mounting arm. The mirrorwire harness is at least partially encased within the mounting arm.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an indicator for amicrophone or accessory module for use with an audio system, such as ahands-free cellular telephone, audio recording device, emergencycommunication device or the like. The indicator provides a signal to auser of the audio system which communicates whether a human vocal audiosignal being received by the audio system is above a threshold leveland/or is at least substantially discriminated from other audible noise,so that the vocal signal to non-vocal audible signals received by theaudio system from the microphone exceeds a predetermined thresholdratio. Preferably, this ratio is at least 2:1. Most preferably, thisratio is at least 10:1. The microphone and indicator may be mounted inthe vehicle cabin, and preferably is mounted as part of the interiorrearview mirror system. The accessory module may contain the microphoneand/or the indicator and is preferably mounted above the mirror betweenthe mirror and the headliner of the vehicle, which provides a fixedlocation of the microphone for maintaining proper orientation of themicrophone with respect to the vehicle interior. The indicator may bemounted at the accessory module, a rearview mirror housing, behind themirror reflector in the housing so as to illuminate through thereflector, a rearview mirror mounting portion or a headliner of thevehicle. Because the accessory module is a separate component from themirror and headliner, additional mirror or headliner console componentsfor mounting the microphone are not required. The present inventionfacilitates fewer parts in the assembly plant since the headliner andmirror assembly may be the same part regardless of whether the audio orcommunication device associated with the invention is to be installedwithin the vehicle. Furthermore, because the accessory module does notrequire special headliners or mirrors, the accessory module may beeasily installed as an aftermarket device.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thisinvention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the microphone module of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation shown partially in section of the microphonemodule in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a similar side elevation as that in FIG. 2, showing analternate electrical connection and mounting bracket for the microphonemodule;

FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view of the microphone module taken along theline IV—IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a similar side elevation as that in FIG. 2, showing amicrophone module without a wire cover but including a self-coiling wireharness;

FIG. 6 is an elevation looking forwardly in a vehicle cabin of amicrophone module and mirror housing having controls mounted thereon;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation shown partially in section of a microphonemodule and mirror housing having various electrical and/or electroniccomponents therein;

FIG. 8 is a similar side elevation as that in FIG. 2 of an alternateembodiment of the present invention, having a rearview mirror mounted toan arm extending downwardly from the microphone module; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an interior rearview mirrorincorporating the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now specifically to the drawings, and the illustrativeembodiments depicted therein, an accessory or microphone module 10 ismounted adjacent to a vehicle windshield 12, as shown in FIG. 1.Microphone module 10 may be implemented in the vehicle in associationwith an audio system, such as a cellular telephone, a recording device,such as a dictation system, an emergency communication device, such asthe ONSTAR system commercially available in certain General Motorsvehicles, or any other audio device which may include a microphone oraudio receiving device. Preferably, the manually actuated buttons tooperate the ONSTAR system are mounted at a movable housing 16 b of aninterior rear view mirror assembly 16, such as is shown generally at 13in FIG. 1. The vehicle includes a headliner 14, which at least partiallycovers the ceiling of an interior passenger compartment of the vehicleand has a forward edge 14 a which interfaces with an upper edge 12 a ofwindshield 12. An interior rearview mirror assembly 16 may be mounted toan interior surface 12 b of windshield 12, typically at a positionspaced downwardly from upper edge 12 a and the position of module 10.Microphone module 10 includes at least one microphone 18 which isfixedly secured within a microphone housing 20 and is directed toward anarea generally defined by the location of a head of a typical driver ofthe vehicle. An indicator 72 is included for providing an audio signalreceiving status message to a user of the audio system. The messageconveys to the user whether the audio signal was adequately received bythe microphone 18 and/or a receiving party of the audio system which isremote from the vehicle. The audio system of the vehicle, such as theONSTAR vehicle system, communicates with the receiving party, typicallyvia a satellite transmission of radio frequencies or via a terrestrialradio frequency transmission system involving multiple receivers,transmitters, and/or repeaters. Microphone module 10 may further includea wire cover 22 which extends downwardly between housing 20 and mirrorassembly 16 to encase or cover a mirror wire harness 24, which may beincluded in mirror assembly 16 to provide power or control signals tocomponents or accessories which may be mounted within or associated withmirror assembly 16.

As shown in FIG. 2, mirror assembly 16 may include a conventionalmounting button 16 a and a mirror housing 16 b supporting a prismatic,electro-optic or electrochromic reflective element 16 d. Mounting button16 a may be adhesively secured to interior surface 12 b of windshield 12at a location substantially below forward edge 14 a of headliner 14 andupper edge 12 a of windshield 12, as is known in the art. Mirror housing16 b is pivotally mounted to mounting button 16 a via an arm 16 c, whichis pivotally interconnected to button 16 a or housing 16 b, or both,such that housing 16 b is pivotally adjustable about mounting arm 16 c.Alternately, mounting arm 16 c terminates at the vehicle headliner topivotally mount the mirror assembly to the headliner of the vehicle.Mirror housing 16 b encases a reflector 16 d (FIG. 7) for reflecting animage of a scene generally rearwardly of the vehicle to the driver (andwith the mirror housing being adjustable by the driver), and a bezel 16e which retains reflector 16 d in housing 16 b, as is well known in theart. Mirror wire harness 24 extends generally upwardly from mirrorhousing 16 b to headliner 14 for electrical connection with a vehiclewiring harness 28 (FIG. 3). Mirror wire harness 24 provides electricalpower and/or control signals to the mirror assembly 16 or various mirrormounted accessories within assembly 16, such as power forelectro-optic/electrochromic mirrors, interior lights (such as maplights in the mirror housing), and displays such as for compassheadings, temperatures, passenger airbag status, or the like.

Headliner 14 extends along upper edge 12 a of windshield 12 and may be aplastic trim panel to secure a fabric ceiling cover and provide anaesthetically pleasing finish between the windshield and the fabricceiling cover of the vehicle. Alternately, headliner 14 may be a forwardportion of the fabric cover or a ceiling console. Headliner 14 mayfurther include other trim or headliner console components (not shown),for storing various articles, such as sunglasses, garage door openers orthe like or for housing other components or accessories associated withthe vehicle.

Indicator 72 is operable with microphone 18 and the audio system toprovide a signal to a user of the audio system, typically the driver ofthe vehicle, which conveys a level of reception of the user's vocalsignal by the audio system. Indicator 72 may be used with microphone 18as part of an interior rearview mirror system. The interior rearviewmirror system may comprise a reflective element positioned in a mirrorhousing 16 b. The housing 16 b may be pivotally mounted to a mountingarm 16 c which terminates at a mirror mount, such as at a mountingbutton or the like secured to the windshield and/or a mount at a headerof the vehicle. The mirror system may include pods, gondolas, modules,or the like, attached to one or more of the housing, arm and mount. Themirror system may further include a wire cover and/or any microphoneand/or accessory module. The mirror system may further include indicator72, microphone 18 and/or other vehicle accessories mounted at, on or inthe mirror assembly 16, such as at housing 16 b, mounting arm 16 c,mounting button 16 a, or a pod or module attached thereto. Indicator 72and microphone 18 and/or other accessories may otherwise be mounted ataccessory module 10, without affecting the scope of the presentinvention.

Preferably, indicator 72 provides a receiving status signal in responseto a reception of the audio signal by the audio system reaching athreshold level of clarity and/or volume. The signal may communicate thereception status of the microphone, so as to alert the driver to speakup or speak more clearly. Preferably, the indicator signal indicateswhen a human voice signal is being adequately received by themicrophone. Alternately, or in addition to the reception status of themicrophone, the indicator signal may communicate the reception status ofa receiving party of the communication which is remote from the vehicle,such as another party's cellular phone or the ONSTAR receiving station.For example, the indicator may be connected to a control (not shown) ofthe audio system and may receive a signal from the receiving partyexternal to the vehicle, such as from the receiving station of theONSTAR system, which indicates whether the message sent by the user inthe vehicle was adequately received by the ONSTAR system.

Preferably, indicator 72 is operable with a control (not shown) whichdiscriminates between vocal signals and other audible inputs received bymicrophone 18 which are non-vocal. The indicator 72 thus provides asignal that an adequately high voice signal to audible noisediscrimination ratio is occurring. The indicator may indicate when anaudible signal received by the audio system is above a threshold level.Preferably, the indicator indicates when the audible signal is a vocalsignal which is discriminated from other audible noise, such as HVACnoise, wind noise, music and the like, so the vocal signal to non-vocalsignal received by the audio system is at or above a predeterminedthreshold ratio. Preferably, this ratio is at least approximately 2:1.Most preferably, this ratio is at least approximately 10:1.

Preferably, indicator 72 provides a visual indication of the quality ofthe reception of the audio signals. Preferably, indicator 72 is a solidstate light emitter such as a light emitting diode (LED), is aphosphorescent element or display or is a tell-tale, such as an LEDbacklit icon. However, indicator 72 may be an incandescent bulb, anincandescent backlit tell-tale, or any other illumination source,without affecting the scope of the present invention. The indicator maythen display when the microphone and/or audio system is receiving anddistinguishing or discriminating a good signal. For example, if thesignal is adequately received, indicator 72 may be activated to providean illumination signal to the driver, and if the signal is poor or isbreaking up between the vehicle and the receiving end of thecommunication, the indicator may be deactivated or flashed to alert theuser. Indicator 72 may also be operable as another signaling device whenthe audio system is not in use or is over ridden when it is desired todisplay the status of another vehicle function. For example, indicator72 may provide a security system status indication (discussed below) ora status of other operable systems or controls within the vehicle.Preferably, indicator 72 would provide a status indication of a systemor control which is not typically activated when the audio system wouldbe in use, such as the security system, which is typically activatedwhen a driver leaves the vehicle. Preferably, the intensity of indicator72 is modulated dependent upon the vehicle cabin ambient light level.Thus, for example, the indicator intensity is decreased during nighttime driving conditions to better suit the then darkened cabin lightingenvironment. This can be achieved such as by use of a photo-detector(such as the ambient and/or glare photodetector commonly used inelectrochromic (EC) automatic dimming interior rearview mirrorassemblies) or may be tied to the vehicle lighting instrument panelsystem so that the intensity of indicator 72 dims in tandem with thedimming of, for example, the instrument panel displays.

It is further envisioned that the indicator 72 may include multiplelight emitters 72 a, 72 b, 72 c, 72 d, and 72 e, as shown in FIG. 9. Thenumber of indicators illuminated would then provide an estimate to theuser of the strength and/or quality of the audio signal beingcommunicated. For example, if the signal is very strong or clear, all ofthe multiple light emitters may be illuminated, while if the signal isweak, some number of emitters less than all will be activated, dependingon the strength or quality of the signal. Each emitter would beactivated in response to a different threshold level of signal qualitybeing received by the audio system.

Although indicator 72 is preferably one or more illumination sources,indicator 72 may alternately be an audible source, such as a loudspeakeror the like, which may provide an audio signal to the user of the audiosystem to alert the user when the signal quality drops below a thresholdlevel of acceptability. The audible source may provide an audible tonewhen the signal quality deteriorates, or may include a voice chip, suchas a digital recording of a human voice message contained on asemi-conductor chip, to tell the user of the system to speak up, repeatthe message or speak more clearly. It is further envisioned that theindicator 72 may provide an alphanumeric display, which may provide aprinted message or digital rating of signal quality to the user of theaudio system. Each message displayed or number in a rating scale wouldcorrespond to a different threshold level of signal quality, such asclarity and/or volume.

Indicator 72 and microphone 18 may be connected to a control (not shown)which monitors the audio signals received by microphone 18. The controlmay be operable to discriminate between different audio signals, such asbetween voice signals and non-voice signals, such as music, fan noise,and wind noise. The control may be further operable to provide a messagevia indicator 72 to alert the user of the audio system to turn down aradio in the vehicle, turn down or off a blower for a heating,ventilation and air conditioning system, roll up the windows of thevehicle, and/or adjust other sources of non-voice signals within thevehicle, such as turn signals or the like, in response to a detection ofone or more of these non-voice signals. Alternately, or in additionthereto, the control may further be operable to automatically adjust thevolume of the radio, the fan speed of the blower, the window setting andthe like in response to such a detection. The control and indicator mayalso alert the user of the system if multiple voices are being receivedsimultaneously, such as via conversations between passengers in thevehicle or conversations on the radio, which may detract from theclarity of the signal being received by the microphone.

The audio system and microphone may further include a learning mode,whereby the audio system/microphone combination learns the vocalcharacteristics of a particular driver or occupant, so that the ratio ofvocal signals to non-vocal noise signals received by the system can beenhanced. The learning mode may be operable in a memory system, such asis known in the automotive art, whereby a group of drivers and/oroccupants, typically one, two or three individuals, may be recognizableby the audio system. The learning mode may be operable to recognize aparticular individual's voice via the operator selecting the learningmode and speaking a brief message to the microphone. The audio systemthen receives the individual's voice message and repeats the messageback to the individual via a speaker or alphanumeric display. Thisprocess is continued until the message is accurately recognized andrepeated by the audio system. The recognized vocal characteristics maythen be stored to memory for future use by the individual. A securityfeature for the audio system and/or any vehicle accessory and/or thevehicle itself can be provided via voice recognition.

Preferably, indicator 72 is mounted at, in or on the mirror housing 16b, either at, within or on or adjacent the bezel 16 e. This is preferredbecause the driver of the vehicle is typically the person using theaudio system, and this location provides optimal visibility of theindicator to the driver, since the mirror housing is adjusted to bedirected toward the driver. Indicator 72 may otherwise be mounted in thehousing 16 b and behind the mirror reflector 16 d, so as to illuminatethrough the reflector. However, as shown in the Figures, indicator 72may alternately be positioned at accessory module 10, mirror mountingportion 16 a, or headliner 14, and may be positioned at any otherlocation where the indicator is visible to the user of the audio system,without affecting the scope of the present invention. It is furtherenvisioned that indicator 72 may be implemented with a microphone 18which is mounted at mirror housing 16 b or mirror mounting portion 16 a,as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 7 and 9, in applications without an accessorymodule. As shown in FIG. 2, microphone 18 and indicator 72 mayalternately be positioned at a pod 17, which may be attached to mountingportion 16 a, arm 16 c, or housing 16 b of mirror assembly 16. A speaker42 may also be included with microphone 18 and indicator 72, inapplications either with or without accessory module.

By providing an indication of the receiving status of vocal signalsreceived by the audio system, the present invention significantlyreduces the possibility that a message will not be received clearly,correctly, and/or accurately by the receiving party. The vehicle baseduser of the audio system is alerted immediately if the microphone is notadequately receiving and/or is not adequately/correctly/accuratelyinterpreting the message and/or if the other party to the communicationis not adequately receiving the message. Accordingly, the user may speakup or speak more clearly, or adjust the volume of other noises orconversations within the vehicle to correct the reception concerns. Theuser may also re-send the message if it was not properly being receivedby the other party. The present invention is especially useful when theother party is an automatic or computer based voice recognition system.The user in the vehicle will be alerted by indicator 72 that the messagesent may not have been properly received by the voice system and maythen re-send the message or try again later in order to ensure that themessage is properly received.

The audio system is connected to indicator 72 and microphone 18.Microphone 18 may share its audio receiving function with a plurality ofaudio systems, such as a cellular phone, the ONSTAR system, a recordingdevice, such as a digital recording device, and/or other systems whichreceive audio signals. Preferably, a digital recording device isincorporated in the interior rearview mirror system, such as within theinterior rearview mirror housing. One or more functions may be selectedat one time. For example, if the microphone is being used with acellular phone function, it may also be used to provide an input to therecording device. The function of microphone may be manually selected bycontrols, such as switches or buttons, within the cabin of the vehicleor may be voice selected and controlled. Microphone 18 and the audiosystem may also be voice activated to further ease the operation of theaudio system. This is preferred because it may be difficult to manuallyactivate and control the audio system while driving the vehicle. Also,voice activation of the system substantially precludes the likelihood ofleaving the system on when it is not in use, which would drain thevehicle's battery over time, since the audio system would beautomatically deactivated when voices are not received by themicrophone. Microphone 18 may also function as a receiver for one ormore other vehicular functions and controls, such as voice activatedheadlamps, alarm systems, radios, cruise control, windows, cellularphones, message recorders, pagers, back up aids, windshield wipers, rainsensors and the like.

Optionally, the interior rearview mirror system can include a display ofthe status of the vehicle tire inflation (such status can be provided bymonitoring the ABS braking system and/or by individual tire pressuresensors in the individual vehicle tires). The interior rearview mirrorsystem may also include a PSIR (passenger side inflatable restraint)display for indicating the status of a PSIR. The tire inflation display,the PSIR display or other displays indicating the status of vehicularaccessories or functions may be provided at the interior rearview mirrorassembly, such as at, on or in the mirror housing, mounting arm,mounting button, or pod/module attached to the housing, arm or mountingbutton.

The interior rearview mirror system may further include a camera and/ordisplay, for providing an image of an area not viewable by the rearviewmirror when it is adjusted for driving conditions. Preferably, thecamera may be directed toward the rear seats of the vehicle so as tofunction as a child minder. The portion of the vehicle being viewed bythe camera (preferably a CCD and, most preferably, a solid state CMOScamera) is preferably illuminated. Preferably, the video cameraselected, such as a CMOS camera, is sensitive in the near-infraredregion and so has night vision capability. Most preferably, theillumination is provided (preferably, mounted at and illuminating fromthe mounting site of the camera itself) by one or more near-infraredillumination sources, such as light emitting diodes which emitefficiently in the near-infrared portion (wavelengths from approximately0.75 microns to about 1.5 microns), but which do not emit efficiently inthe visible portion (wavelengths below approximately 0.75 microns) ofthe electromagnetic spectrum. Therefore, the interior cabin of thevehicle may be illuminated with radiation in a range which the camera issensitive to, such that the system can form a clear image of the area onthe display, while the cabin is not illuminated with visible lightwhich, at night, may be sufficient to cause glare or discomfort to thedriver and/or passengers in the illuminated area.

Although the mirror system and/or vehicle is described above asincluding one or more of a camera, pager system, cellular phone and thelike, it is further envisioned that these accessories and others may beportable or dockable with a connecting port of the vehicle or mirrorsystem. An individual or driver of the vehicle may use the personalpager, cellular phone, video camera, electronic personal organizers,such as a PILOT unit or the like, remote from the vehicle, such as athome, in a business office, or the like, and may then dock, plug in orotherwise connect the device to the connecting port for use within thevehicle. The devices may be dockable at the interior rearview mirrorassembly, or may be dockable elsewhere in the vehicle, without affectingthe scope of the present invention. The dockable device may, when dockedinto the vehicle, may personalize the controls and functions of thevehicle to suit that individual driver. Thus, features such as seatposition, radio station selection, mirror field of view orientation,climate control, and other similar vehicle f unctions may be set to suitthe individual preferences, or restrictions (such as a restriction fromuse of a cellular phone, or the like) for that particular driver. Suchdockable portable devices may be especially useful to provide a securityfunction and/or for tracking, logging, accounting for individual users,such as would be desirable for fleet operators, car rental operators,school bus fleet operators, and the like.

Microphone 18 may be mounted to accessory module 10, which includes wirecover 22 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which extends between a lower edge 20 c ofhousing 20 and mounting button 16 a of mirror 16. Mirror harness 24 isencased within wire cover 22 to retain harness 24 and provide a finishedappearance to the electrical connection of mirror 16 to vehicle wiringharness 28. Preferably, wire cover 22 is telescopingly extendable andretractable to adapt the length to different mounting locations ofmounting button 16 a relative to headliner 14 on various vehicles. Asbest shown in FIG. 2, wire cover 22 may extend or retract by slidingupwardly or downwardly within housing 20. This facilitatesimplementation of microphone module 10 in various vehicles and furtherfacilitates the aftermarket installation of module 10 in vehicles havinga button-mounted interior rearview mirror.

Microphone module 10 is preferably secured to interior surface 12 b ofwindshield 12 at an interface junction 26 between forward edge 14 a ofheadliner 14 and interior surface 12 a of windshield 12. However, it isenvisioned that microphone module 10 may be mounted in other locations.Housing 20 of microphone module 10 is preferably formed with asubstantially flat windshield mounting surface 20 a and a curved,concave headliner surface 20 b, such that housing 20 mounts towindshield 12 along mounting surface 20 a, while headliner surface 20 bsubstantially uniformly engages headliner 14 to provide a flush,finished transition between microphone module 10 and headliner 14.Preferably, housing 20 is adhesively secured to interior surface 12 b ofwindshield 12, such as by bonding, pressuring sensitive adhesives,anaerobic adhesives, double faced tape, or the like. However, microphonemodule 10 may optionally be mechanically secured to an intermediatemounting bracket adhered to the windshield, or may be connected to theheadliner itself, as discussed below, without affecting the scope of thepresent invention. Microphone module 10 is preferably a plastic moldedpart, which facilitates forming the part in various shapes to match theheadliner/windshield interface and to further facilitate providing thepart in different colors to match optional interior colors of thevehicles.

Mirror harness 24 may connect directly to vehicle wiring 28 while anaccessory wiring harness 30 may separately connect to the vehicle wiringto provide power and/or control signals to the accessories withinaccessory module 10. Alternately, mirror harness 24 may connect tomodule 10, which may then be connectable to vehicle wiring 28, as shownin FIGS. 3 and 7. Because microphone module 10 may be a separate modulefrom the headliner and the mirror assembly, and because module 10 ispreferably connected to the vehicle wiring independent of wires from theinterior rear view mirror assembly to the vehicle wiring, microphonemodule 10 may be easily removed or accessed for serviceability orreplacement without having to remove or replace the mirror assembly.This is a significant advantage over the prior art because if themicrophone is damaged, the more expensive components, such as the mirroror headliner console, do not have to be replaced in order to repair orreplace the microphone.

Microphone module 10 may be mounted to windshield 12 such thatmicrophone 18 is directed downwardly and rearwardly toward the driver'sseat of the vehicle to optimally receive audio signals therefrom.Preferably, microphone 18 is a directional or polar microphone, whichlimits the audio signal received to signals within the area toward whichthe microphone is directed. Such microphones are known in the art andare commercially available as an AKG 400 Series or a 501T Seriesmicrophone from A.K.G. Acoustics/GMBH in Vienna, Austria. Thesemicrophones are operable to receive audio signals from within thetargeted area, while substantially reducing or limiting the signalsreceived from outside that area. By mounting microphone 18 withinhousing 20 and directing microphone 18 downward and rearward toward atypical location of a driver's head, the audio signal detected bymicrophone 18 will be dominated by a voice signal from the driver of thevehicle and will substantially limit noise signals originating fromother sources, such as the engine, road, wind, HVAC, radio, turn signalsand the like. Because microphone 18 may be fixedly mounted withinhousing 20, microphone 18 may be optimally directed toward the area ofinterest, and will not be adjusted or misdirected when the mirror isadjusted for a different driver of the vehicle.

Alternately, multiple microphones may be implemented within microphonemodule 10 to receive various signals from different directions. As isknown in the audio art, RMF techniques may be implemented to digitizeindividual outputs from the multiple microphones and integrate theoutputs to establish which outputs are the loudest and which have thepresence of human audible signals verses noise. The signals which havethe greatest presence of human audible signals may then be selected overthe signals of the other microphones, thereby providing a voice signalto the communication device.

Microphone module 10 further includes a microphone wire harness 30 (FIG.3), which extends from microphone 18 through headliner surface 20 b ofhousing 20 and into headliner 14. Microphone 18 is preferablyinterconnectable to the vehicle harness by microphone harness 30 in aconventional manner. Preferably, microphone harness 30 comprises a pairof wires for microphone 18. Clearly, however, if multiple microphonesare implemented in microphone module 10, multiple wires (not shown) willcorrespondingly be required. Furthermore, if indicator 72 is included inmodule 10, additional wiring 30 a (FIG. 4) will also be required.

As shown in FIG. 2, the audio system may further include a loud speaker42 for providing an audible signal to the driver and passengers of thevehicle. Speaker 42 may be mounted to housing 20 and includes a wiringharness 43 for electrical connection to the vehicle wiring 28, similarto microphone 18. Speaker 42 may be a conventional diaphragm speaker,piezo-electric speaker, such as a piezo-electric ceramic speaker, or thelike. Most preferably, speaker 42 is a piezo-electric ceramic moldablespeaker. Additional speakers may be mounted within the accessory module10 or in a pod 17 attached to the mirror mounting bracket 16 a of theinterior rear view mirror assembly.

It is further envisioned that the audio system may include multiplemicrophones and/or speakers positioned at different locations within thevehicle to supplement one another in order to optimally receive andproject the audio signals from and to the desired areas within thevehicle. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, one or more microphones 18and/or speakers 42 may be positioned in module 10, as well as in mirrorhousing 16 b, in mounting button 16 a, and/or within a pod 17, which maybe mounted to mirror assembly 16 and extends downwardly beneath mirrorhousing 16 b. Clearly, pod 17 may alternately be positioned above or toeither side of mirror housing 16 b, without affecting the scope of thepresent invention. The microphone 18 and speaker 42 may access and/orshare the electronic circuitry of an electro-optic or electrochromicmirror. By providing one or more microphones and speakers within thevehicle, the overall effectiveness of the audio system may be improved,since signals not optimally directed toward the microphone within themodule, may be better received by the microphone in the pod, mirrorhousing, or button. It is further envisioned that one or more indicators72 may be positioned at one or more locations within the vehicle, suchas at the module 10, mirror housing 16 b, mounting button 16 a, and/orpod 17, as shown in FIG. 2. Microphone 18 and/or speaker 42 may also bepositioned at the mirror or pod assemblies in conjunction withmicrophones or speakers in a module 10 or in applications where thevehicle does not include a microphone module.

Although shown as having a microphone 18 within a module 10, the presentinvention includes implementation of a microphone 18 and indicator 72 invarious locations within the cabin of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 9,microphone 18 and indicator 72 may be mounted to mirror housing 16 b.Alternately, microphone 18 and/or indicator 72 may be mounted to themirror mounting button 16 a or at a pod or other mounting devicepositioned in the vicinity of the mirror assembly 16. If the audiosystem includes a speaker and/or a recording device, the speaker and/orrecording device may be mounted to the mirror assembly or pod, or may bepositioned elsewhere within the cabin of the vehicle, either in thevicinity of the microphone and/or the indicator or remote therefrom.

Referring again to FIG. 3, microphone module 10 may alternately connectto the vehicle wiring harness 28 via electrical connectors 32 and 33.For example, a socket 33 may be provided in housing 20 of microphonemodule 10, such that vehicle wiring harness 28 may include acorresponding male connector, such as a conventional twelve pinconnector, which mates with socket 33. Microphone harness 30 may thenextend from socket 33 to microphone 18, while remaining within housing20. Similarly, mirror harness 24 may extend from socket 33 downwardlythrough housing 20 and wire cover 22 to mirror assembly 16. Byconnecting both the mirror harness 24 and microphone harness 30 to thevehicle harness 28 with connectors 32 and 33, microphone module 10further facilitates simplified installation of mirror assembly 16 withinthe vehicle.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, microphone module 10 may be mechanicallysecured to window 12 and/or headliner 14. For example, a bracket 34 maybe bonded or otherwise adhesively secured to interior surface 12 d ofwindshield 12. Window surface 20 a of housing 20 may then becorrespondingly formed with bracket 34 to engage the bracket forremovable mounting of microphone module 10 to windshield 12. As bestshown in FIG. 4, bracket 34 may include a windshield mounting surface 34a and a pair of mounting flanges 34 b which are offset from the positionof mounting surface 34 a and extend laterally outwardly from a pair ofsidewalls 34 c, which extend downwardly and rearwardly from mountingportion 34 a. Windshield surface 20 a of housing 20 may then becorrespondingly formed to slidably engage mounting flanges 34 b ofbracket 34, such that housing 20 is slidable upwardly along bracket 34until headliner surface 20 b interfaces with headliner 14. At thatpoint, one or more mounting pins or fasteners 36 may be inserted throughhousing 20 and mounting flanges 34 b to substantially secure thecomponents together. Alternatively, or in addition to fasteners 36, aheadliner fastener 38 (FIG. 3) may extend through headliner surface 20 bof housing 20 and engage a bracket 40 within headliner 14, therebysubstantially securing housing 20 to both windshield 12 and headliner14. Mounting fasteners 36 and 38 may be threaded fasteners or push-pinor snap fit type fasteners, to substantially secure housing 20 to therespective brackets 34 and 40. It is further envisioned that themounting bracket and microphone housing may be correspondingly formed topress-fit together or snap or otherwise lock together as the microphonehousing is moved to the appropriate mounting location relative to thebracket. Clearly, other mounting brackets and/or fasteners may beimplemented to substantially secure microphone module 10 relative towindshield 12 or headliner 14, without affecting the scope of thepresent invention.

Referring now to FIG. 5, microphone module 10 may be implemented withouta wire cover. The mirror wiring harness may extend freely downwardlyfrom microphone housing 20 to mirror housing 16 b or may be adhered orotherwise secured or guided along interior surface 12 b of windshield 12and further along arm 16 c to mirror housing 16 b. Alternately, as shownin FIG. 5, a mirror harness 24′ may be implemented to provide anaesthetically pleasing spirally-coiled cord, similar to a conventionaltelephone cord, which extends downwardly from lower end 20 c of housing20 and curves rearwardly toward housing 16 b of mirror assembly 16.Mirror harness 24′ may be electronically connectable with vehicle wiringharness 28 via conventional electrical connectors 32′ and 33′, whilemicrophone harness 30 is electronically connected with the vehiclewiring harness separately, as discussed above with reference to FIG. 2.Clearly, however, mirror harness 24′ and microphone harness 30 may beconnectable to vehicle wiring harness 28 by any other conventionalmeans, without affecting the scope of the present invention. Asdiscussed above with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, housing 20 may bebonded to, adhesively secured or mechanically fastened to interiorsurface 12 b of windshield 12 and/or to headliner 14.

Although specific embodiments of the microphone module of the presentinvention are shown in FIGS. 2 through 5 and discussed above, clearlythe scope of the present invention includes other means of mounting themicrophone module and of covering or guiding the mirror harness betweenthe microphone module and the mirror. For example, the microphone modulemay be mounted to the windshield between mounting button 16 a andheadliner 14 and have wire covers or the like extending from both upperand lower ends of the module to cover wires between the headliner andthe module and further between the module and the mirror assembly.Alternatively, the microphone module may be mounted above and adjacentto the mirror mounting button 16 a and include a wire cover whichextends upwardly therefrom to substantially encase the wires extendingfrom the module to the headliner for connection with the vehicle wiringharness. It is further envisioned that the microphone module may be partof a plastic wire cover extending upwardly from the interior rear viewmirror assembly toward the headliner. The wiring harnesses associatedwith the mirror assembly, the microphone and the indicator may be routedand connected with the vehicle wiring harness by any known means withouteffecting the scope of the present invention. The microphone, indicatorand mirror assembly may be implemented as a single component, whichrequires fewer assembly plant installation processes, thereby reducingthe costs associated with the vehicle manufacture. It is furtherenvisioned that microphone 18 and indicator 72 may be mounted anywherewithin the cabin of the vehicle without an accessory module. Preferably,both are positioned forwardly of the driver of the vehicle to optimallyreceive a voice signal from the driver and to be easily viewed by thedriver while looking forwardly. Preferably, the microphone and indicatorare mounted at the rearview mirror housing 16 b, the mirror button 16 a,the headliner 14, and/or a pod attached to the mirror assembly (such asa pod attached to the mirror button mount of the interior rearviewmirror assembly), windshield or headliner.

Although shown and described above as being implemented with a buttonmounted interior rearview mirror assembly, an alternate embodiment ofthe present invention may incorporate a mirror assembly 116 with amicrophone module 110, as shown in FIG. 8. Microphone module 110preferably includes a microphone 118 and a microphone housing 120, whichare substantially similar to microphone 18 and housing 20, discussedabove with respect to microphone module 10. However, microphone module110 further includes a mirror mounting arm 122, which extends generallydownwardly from a lower portion 120 c of housing 120. Mirror assembly116 is pivotally mounted to a lower end 122 a of arm 122 via aconventional ball and socket connection 116 a. A mirror wiring harness124 extends from mirror assembly 116 upwardly through arm 122 andfurther through housing 120 and into header 14 of the vehicle forelectrical connection with the vehicle wiring harness. A microphoneharness 130 may also electronically connect microphone 118 with thevehicle wiring harness, as discussed above with respect to microphoneharness 30. Microphone module 110 and mirror assembly 116 may beelectronically connected to the vehicle wiring harness by any knownmeans, without affecting the scope of the present invention. Anindicator 172 may be included to at module 110 and/or at mirror housing116 to provide an audio signal receiving status to the driver of thevehicle or user of the audio system, similar to indicator 72, discussedabove. Similar to microphone module 10, a windshield surface 120 a ofhousing 120 may be adhesively or mechanically secured along an interiorsurface 12 b of windshield 12.

As shown in FIG. 6, microphone module 10 may further include manualcontrols for the audio or communication device associated withmicrophone 18, such as buttons 44 for activating and/or adjusting thecommunication device. Microphone module 10 may further include othermanual controls 46 for activating or adjusting other accessories ordevices within the vehicle, such as interior or exterior lights, or forselecting a function for microphone 18, such as a cellular phone versusan emergency communication device or recording device. Mirror housing 16b may also include controls, buttons or switches, shown generally at 48,for selectively activating, deactivating or adjusting one or moreaccessories associated with the vehicle. For example, controls 48 mayactivate map reading lights on mirror housing 16 b, temperaturedisplays, compass heading displays or the like, which may be displayedon a portion of mirror housing 16 b and are thus easily visible to thedriver of the vehicle. Alternatively, however, controls 46 and 48 onmicrophone module 10 and mirror housing 16 b, respectively, may controlaccessories or lights which are located on or within the vehicle and yetare remote from microphone module 10 and mirror 16.

Referring now to FIG. 7, an accessory module 10′ may further includemultiple accessories, components or devices associated with variouscontrol systems of the vehicle and connected with a vehicle control orthe vehicle wiring harness. For example, accessory module 10′ mayinclude a microphone 18, an indicator 72, a loudspeaker 42, a GlobalPositioning System (GPS) antenna 50, a motion sensor 52, a rain sensor54, a video device or camera 56, an interior light 58, an automatic tollbooth transducer 59, a security system status indicator 70, a compassand/or compass sensor 51, a temperature display and/or temperaturesensor 53, a tire pressure indicator display 55, a seat occupancydetection antenna and/or transducer 57, and/or any other devices,components or circuitry which may be useful to mount in accessory module10′. Preferably, camera 56 is a pixelated imaging array sensor, such asa CMOS imaging array or the like, a description of which is disclosed incommonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,670,935, issued to Schofield et al.,the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Themodule 10′ may provide a location for these devices which is highlyvisible and eases user interface by the driver or passengers of thevehicle. Furthermore, mirror housing 16 b may also include electricaldevices and electronic components, such as other microphones 18,indicators 72 and loudspeakers 42, map reading lights 60, compass 62,display 64, trip computer 66, or other components or devices associatedwith the vehicle. Mirror harness 24 may provide power and/or controlsignals to these components or devices and may interconnect with thecontrol circuitry of the devices and of an electrochromic mirrorfunction control circuitry 68 for electronically adjusting thereflectivity of reflector 16 d within mirror housing 16 b. Display 64may display vehicle status or information displays, such as compassheadings, interior or exterior temperatures, clock display, fuel leveldisplay, air bag status display, telephone dial information display, orother status displays of various components or devices associated withthe vehicle. Information displayed in display 64 may be selectivelydisplayed by an operator via controls 48 (FIG. 6), or may be cyclicallydisplayed or may be displayed when there is a change in status of one ofthe devices.

It is envisioned that accessory module 10′ may further include multipleelectrical and/or electronic components, such as those described incommonly assigned, co-pending U.S. patent applications, Ser. No.08/918,772, filed Aug. 25, 1997 by Deline et al., now U.S. Pat. No.6,124,886, and Ser. No. 09/244,726, filed Feb. 5, 1999 by Deline et al.,now U.S. Pat. No. 6,172,613, the disclosures of which are herebyincorporated herein by reference. The mirror and/or the microphonemodule may communicate with these or other devices or components withinthe vehicle as part of a Car Area Network (CAN) or multiplex system,such as is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,575,issued to O'Farrell et al., PCT International Application published Sep.25, 1997 under International Publication No. WO 97/34780, by Fletcher etal., PCT International Application No. PCT/IE98/00001, filed Jan. 9,1998 by John P. Drummond et al. and published Jul. 16, 1998 underInternational Publication Number WO 98/30415, the disclosures of whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference, a Local InterconnectNetwork (LIN), or similar communications protocols, which may supportthe control of mechatronic nodes in automotive distributor applications.

Accessory module 10′ may also include an illumination source 70 for avehicle security system, such as an intrusion detection system, vehiclealarm system, vehicle antitheft system, or the like. The illuminationsource may be an incandescent source or a nonincandescent source.Preferably, illumination source 70 is a nonincandescent, solid statesource such as a light emitting diode (LED), an electro-luminescentdevice or the like. The illumination source 70 is operable to blink orflash intermittently when the system is armed. Typically, such systemsflash the illumination source rapidly at first for up to approximately30 seconds (or longer) after arming of the system, and thenintermittently flash the illumination source for a continuous periodwhile the system is activated (for example, once every one to twoseconds), thereby alerting people within the vehicle that the securitysystem is activated. Optionally, the security system indicator may beprovided by indicator 72. Indicator 72 may provide an audio signalreceiving status when the audio system is in use, and then provide asecurity system status signal when the audio system is deactivatedand/or the security system is armed.

It is further envisioned that the illumination source for the vehiclesecurity system may be included in a separate module or pod which may bemounted to the microphone or accessory module the mirror assembly, orthe vehicle headliner. The illumination source module may besubstantially similar to the microphone or accessory module discussedabove and may clip or otherwise be mounted to the microphone module. Forexample, the illumination source module may snap into a mountingaperture in the microphone module or may be adhesively mounted to a sidewall of the microphone housing. Alternately, the security systemactivation status source module may be mounted to the mirror assembly,such as to the mounting button, arm or mirror housing. The illuminationsource module may then be positioned below, above, or to either side ofthe mirror housing to facilitate viewing of the illumination source bypassengers within the vehicle. The illumination source module mayotherwise be mounted to the wire cover of the microphone module suchthat it is visible above the mirror housing. If the vehicle includes aheader mounted mirror assembly, it is further envisioned that theillumination source module may be mounted to, or included as part of,the header mirror mounting bracketry or other mounting device.

By providing a vehicle security system illumination source module as aseparate component, greater flexibility is achieved by the vehiclemanufacturers. The separate security system module avoids the additionalexpenses required to tool two different mirror cases for vehicles withor without a security system. The optional pod or module with theillumination source may be simply installed as a vehicle option, or asan aftermarket device. Similar to the microphone and accessory modulesdiscussed above, the illumination source module for the security systemmay further include other components, devices, controls or displaysassociated with the security system or other systems within the vehicle.It is further envisioned that other pods or modules which include one ormore various components or devices associated with other systems ordevices of the vehicle may be implemented to facilitate easyinstallation of the components of the systems either in the assemblyplant or as aftermarket devices.

Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments canbe carried out without departing from the principles of the invention,which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appendedclaims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent law.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property right orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A mirror-based audiosystem for a vehicle comprising: an interior rearview mirror systemincluding an interior rearview mirror assembly, said interior rearviewmirror assembly including a reflector element; said interior rearviewmirror system including a plurality of microphones for receiving audiosignals within a cabin of the vehicle, said plurality of microphonescomprising at least two microphones which generate output signalsindicative of sound generated within the vehicle cabin, said at leasttwo microphones being one of (i) positioned within said interiorrearview mirror assembly, (ii) positioned adjacent to said interiorrearview mirror assembly, (iii) positioned in an attachment to saidinterior rearview mirror assembly, and (iv) positioned within a modulemounted to a windshield of the vehicle; said audio system furthercomprising a control operable to distinguish the presence of vocalsignals versus non-vocal signals and to at least partially filter outsaid non-vocal signals, said audio system distinguishing said vocalsignals received at said at least two microphones from said non-vocalsignals by a ratio of at least 2:1.
 2. The mirror-based audio system ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of said at least two microphones isdirected toward an area encompassing the general location of a head of adriver of the vehicle.
 3. The mirror-based audio system of claim 2,wherein said audio system distinguishes said vocal signals received atsaid at least two microphones from said non-vocal signals by a ratio ofat least 10:1.
 4. The mirror-based audio system of claim 2, wherein saidat least one of said at least two microphones comprises a singledirectional microphone and is fixedly mounted and directed toward thearea encompassing the general location of a head of a driver of thevehicle.
 5. The mirror-based audio system of claim 2, wherein said atleast two microphones are positioned within a module mounted to thewindshield, said module being positioned between said interior rearviewmirror assembly and a headliner extending along an upper edge of thewindshield.
 6. The mirror-based audio system of claim 1, wherein saidcontrol is operable to select at least one of said output signals fromat least one of said at least two microphones and to provide the atleast one selected output signal to said audio system.
 7. Themirror-based audio system of claim 1 further including an indicatoroperable to indicate when said vocal signals are being adequatelydistinguished by said control.
 8. The mirror-based audio system of claim1, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly further includes atleast one control input for at least one accessory of the vehicle. 9.The mirror-based audio system of claim 8, wherein said at least oneaccessory of the vehicle comprises at least one of a map reading light,a temperature display, a compass display, a global positioning systemantenna, a rain sensor, a video system, a tire pressure display and asecurity system.
 10. The mirror-based audio system of claim 1, whereinsaid interior rearview mirror system further includes at least onemirror-based accessory.
 11. The mirror-based audio system of claim 10,wherein said at least one mirror-based accessory comprises at least oneof a global positioning system antenna, a motion sensor, a rain sensor,a video device, an interior light of the vehicle, an automatic tollbooth transducer, a security system status indicator, a compass, acompass sensor, a temperature display, a temperature sensor, a tirepressure indicator display, a seat occupancy detection antenna, a seatoccupancy detection transducer and a loudspeaker.
 12. The mirror-basedaudio system of claim 10, wherein said at least one mirror-basedaccessory is one of (i) positioned within said interior rearview mirrorassembly, (ii) positioned adjacent to said interior rearview mirrorassembly, (iii) positioned in an attachment to said interior rearviewmirror assembly, and (iv) positioned within a module mounted to thewindshield.
 13. The mirror-based audio system of claim 1 furthercomprising at least a portion of at least one of a cellular telephonesystem, an emergency communication system and an audio recording system.14. The mirror-based audio system of claim 1 further including anillumination source for a vehicle security system.
 15. The mirror-basedaudio system of claim 14, wherein said illumination source for a vehiclesecurity system is one of (i) positioned within said interior rearviewmirror assembly, (ii) positioned adjacent to said interior rearviewmirror assembly, (iii) positioned in an attachment to said interiorrearview mirror assembly, and (iv) positioned within a module mounted tothe windshield.
 16. The mirror-based audio system of claim 1, whereinsaid reflector element comprises an electrochromic reflector elementhaving electrically variable reflectivity.
 17. The mirror-based audiosystem of claim 16, wherein said interior rearview mirror assemblyincludes electronic circuitry for at least adjusting the reflectivity ofsaid electrochromic reflector element.
 18. The mirror-based audio systemof claim 17, wherein at least one of said at least two microphones ofsaid audio system at least one of: a) accesses a component of saidelectronic circuitry of said interior rearview mirror assembly, and b)shares a component of said electronic circuitry of said interiorrearview mirror assembly.
 19. The mirror-based audio system of claim 18,wherein said electronic circuitry is associated with at least onemirror-based accessory selected from the group consisting of a globalpositioning system antenna, a motion sensor, a rain sensor, a videodevice, an interior light of the vehicle, an automatic toll boothtransducer, a security system status indicator, a compass, a compasssensor, a temperature display, a temperature sensor, a tire pressureindicator display, a seat occupancy detection antenna, a seat occupancydetection transducer and a loudspeaker.
 20. The mirror-based audiosystem of claim 1, wherein said interior rearview mirror system controlsa mechatronic element.
 21. The mirror-based audio system of claim 1,wherein said interior rearview mirror system communicates with devicesor components in the vehicle via at least one of a network and amultiplex system.
 22. The mirror-based audio system of claim 1, whereinsaid non-vocal signals originate from at least one noise source selectedfrom the group consisting of engine noise, road noise, wind noise, HVACnoise, a radio and a turn signal.
 23. A mirror-based audio system for avehicle comprising: an interior rearview mirror system including aninterior rearview mirror assembly, said interior rearview mirrorassembly including a reflector element, said reflector elementcomprising an electrochromic reflector element having electricallyvariable reflectivity; said interior rearview mirror system including aplurality of microphones for receiving audio signals within a cabin ofthe vehicle, said plurality of microphones comprising at least twomicrophones which generate output signals indicative of sound generatedwithin the vehicle cabin, said at least two microphones being one of (i)positioned within said interior rearview mirror assembly, (ii)positioned adjacent to said interior rearview mirror assembly, (iii)positioned in an attachment to said interior rearview mirror assembly,and (iv) positioned within a module mounted to a windshield of thevehicle; and said audio system further comprising a control operable todistinguish the presence of vocal signals versus non-vocal signals andto at least partially filter out said non-vocal signals, said non-vocalsignals originating from at least one noise source selected from thegroup consisting of engine noise, road noise, wind noise, HVAC noise, aradio and a turn signal, said audio system distinguishing said vocalsignals received at said at least two microphones from said non-vocalsignals by a ratio of at least 2:1.
 24. The mirror-based audio system ofclaim 23, wherein at least one of said at least two microphones isdirected toward an area encompassing the general location of a head of adriver of the vehicle.
 25. The mirror-based audio system of claim 24,wherein said audio system distinguishes said vocal signals received atsaid at least two microphones from said non-vocal signals by a ratio ofat least 10:1.
 26. The mirror-based audio system of claim 24, whereinsaid at least one of said at least two microphones comprises a singledirectional microphone and is fixedly mounted and directed toward thearea encompassing the general location of a head of a driver of thevehicle.
 27. The mirror-based audio system of claim 24, wherein said atleast two microphones are positioned within a module mounted to thewindshield, said module being positioned between said interior rearviewmirror assembly and a headliner extending along an upper edge of thewindshield.
 28. The mirror-based audio system of claim 23, wherein saidcontrol is operable to select at least one of said output signals fromat least one of said at least two microphones and to provide the atleast one selected output signal to said audio system.
 29. Themirror-based audio system of claim 23 further including an indicatoroperable to indicate when said vocal signals are being adequatelydistinguished by said control.
 30. The mirror-based audio system ofclaim 23, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly furtherincludes at least one control input for at least one accessory of thevehicle.
 31. The mirror-based audio system of claim 30, wherein said atleast one accessory of the vehicle comprises at least one of a mapreading light, a temperature display, a compass display, a globalpositioning system antenna, a rain sensor, a video system, a tirepressure display and a security system.
 32. The mirror-based audiosystem of claim 23, wherein said interior rearview mirror system furtherincludes at least one mirror-based accessory.
 33. The mirror-based audiosystem of claim 32, wherein said at least one mirror-based accessorycomprises at least one of a global positioning system antenna, a motionsensor, a rain sensor, a video device, an interior light of the vehicle,an automatic toll booth transducer, a security system status indicator,a compass, a compass sensor, a temperature display, a temperaturesensor, a tire pressure indicator display, a seat occupancy detectionantenna, a seat occupancy detection transducer and a loudspeaker. 34.The mirror-based audio system of claim 32, wherein said at least onemirror-based accessory is one of (i) positioned within said interiorrearview mirror assembly, (ii) positioned adjacent to said interiorrearview mirror assembly, (iii) positioned in an attachment to saidinterior rearview mirror assembly, and (iv) positioned within a modulemounted to the windshield.
 35. The mirror-based audio system of claim 23further comprising at least a portion of at least one of a cellulartelephone system, an emergency communication system and an audiorecording system.
 36. The mirror-based audio system of claim 23 furtherincluding an illumination source for a vehicle security system.
 37. Themirror-based audio system of claim 36, wherein said illumination sourcefor a vehicle security system is one of (i) positioned within saidinterior rearview mirror assembly, (ii) positioned adjacent to saidinterior rearview mirror assembly, (iii) positioned in an attachment tosaid interior rearview mirror assembly, and (iv) positioned within amodule mounted to the windshield.
 38. The mirror-based audio system ofclaim 23, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly furtherincludes a video device.
 39. The mirror-based audio system of claim 38,wherein said video device comprises a CMOS imaging array.
 40. Themirror-based audio system of claim 23, wherein said interior rearviewmirror assembly includes electronic circuitry for at least adjusting thereflectivity of said electrochromic reflector element.
 41. Themirror-based audio system of claim 40, wherein at least one of said atleast two microphones of said audio system at least one of: a) accessesa component of said electronic circuitry of said interior rearviewmirror assembly, and b) shares a component of said electronic circuitryof said interior rearview mirror assembly.
 42. The mirror-based audiosystem of claim 41, wherein said electronic circuitry is associated withat least one mirror-based accessory selected from the group consistingof a global positioning system antenna, a motion sensor, a rain sensor,a video device, an interior light of the vehicle, an automatic tollbooth transducer, a security system status indicator, a compass, acompass sensor, a temperature display, a temperature sensor, a tirepressure indicator display, a seat occupancy detection antenna, a seatoccupancy detection transducer and a loudspeaker.
 43. The mirror-basedaudio system of claim 23, wherein said interior rearview mirror systemcontrols a mechatronic element.
 44. The mirror-based audio system ofclaim 23, wherein said interior rearview mirror system communicates withdevices or components in the vehicle via at least one of a network and amultiplex system.
 45. A mirror-based audio system for a vehiclecomprising: an interior rearview mirror system including an interiorrearview mirror assembly, said interior rearview mirror assemblyincluding a reflector element, said reflector element comprising anelectrochromic reflector element having electrically variablereflectivity; said interior rearview mirror system including a pluralityof microphones for receiving audio signals within a cabin of thevehicle, said plurality of microphones comprising at least twomicrophones which generate output signals indicative of sound generatedwithin the vehicle cabin, said at least two microphones being one of (i)positioned within said interior rearview mirror assembly, (ii)positioned adjacent to said interior rearview mirror assembly, (iii)positioned in an attachment to said interior rearview mirror assembly,and (iv) positioned within a module mounted to a windshield of thevehicle; said audio system further comprising a control operable todistinguish the presence of vocal signals versus non-vocal signals andto at least partially filter out said non-vocal signals, said non-vocalsignals originating from at least one noise source selected from thegroup consisting of engine noise, road noise, wind noise, HVAC noise, aradio and a turn signal; and wherein said interior rearview mirrorassembly further includes at least one control input for at least oneaccessory of the vehicle, said at least one accessory of the vehiclecomprising at least one of a map reading light, a temperature display, acompass display, a global positioning system antenna, a rain sensor, avideo system, a tire pressure display and a security system.
 46. Themirror-based audio system of claim 45, wherein at least one of said atleast two microphones is directed toward an area encompassing thegeneral location of a head of a driver of the vehicle.
 47. Themirror-based audio system of claim 46, wherein said audio systemdistinguishes said vocal signals received at said at least twomicrophones from said non-vocal signals by a ratio of at least 2:1. 48.The mirror-based audio system of claim 47, wherein said audio systemdistinguishes said vocal signals received at said at least twomicrophones from said non-vocal signals by a ratio of at least 10:1. 49.The mirror-based audio system of claim 46, wherein said at least one ofsaid at least two microphones comprises a single directional microphoneand is fixedly mounted and directed toward the area encompassing thegeneral location of a head of a driver of the vehicle.
 50. Themirror-based audio system of claim 46, wherein said at least twomicrophones are positioned within a module mounted to the windshield,said module being positioned between said interior rearview mirrorassembly and a headliner extending along an upper edge of thewindshield.
 51. The mirror-based audio system of claim 45, wherein saidcontrol is operable to select at least one of said output signals fromat least one of said at least two microphones and to provide the atleast one selected output signal to said audio system.
 52. Themirror-based audio system of claim 45 further including an indicatoroperable to indicate when said vocal signals are being adequatelydistinguished by said control.
 53. The mirror-based audio system ofclaim 45, wherein said at least one accessory of the vehicle comprises acompass display.
 54. The mirror-based audio system of claim 45, whereinsaid interior rearview mirror system further includes at least onemirror-based accessory.
 55. The mirror-based audio system of claim 54,wherein said at least one mirror-based accessory comprises at least oneof a global positioning system antenna, a motion sensor, a rain sensor,a video device, an interior light of the vehicle, an automatic tollbooth transducer, a security system status indicator, a compass, acompass sensor, a temperature display, a temperature sensor, a tirepressure indicator display, a seat occupancy detection antenna, a seatoccupancy detection transducer and a loudspeaker.
 56. The mirror-basedaudio system of claim 54, wherein said at least one mirror-basedaccessory is one of (i) positioned within said interior rearview mirrorassembly, (ii) positioned adjacent to said interior rearview mirrorassembly, (iii) positioned in an attachment to said interior rearviewmirror assembly, and (iv) positioned within a module mounted to thewindshield.
 57. The mirror-based audio system of claim 45 furthercomprising at least a portion of at least one of a cellular telephonesystem, an emergency communication system and an audio recording system.58. The mirror-based audio system of claim 45 further including anillumination source for a vehicle security system.
 59. The mirror-basedaudio system of claim 58, wherein said illumination source for a vehiclesecurity system is one of (i) positioned within said interior rearviewmirror assembly, (ii) positioned adjacent to said interior rearviewmirror assembly, (iii) positioned in an attachment to said interiorrearview mirror assembly, and (iv) positioned within a module mounted tothe windshield.
 60. The mirror-based audio system of claim 45, whereinsaid interior rearview mirror assembly further includes a video device.61. The mirror-based audio system of claim 60, wherein said video devicecomprises a CMOS imaging array.
 62. The mirror-based audio system ofclaim 45, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includeselectronic circuitry for at least adjusting the reflectivity of saidelectrochromic reflector element.
 63. The mirror-based audio system ofclaim 62, wherein at least one of said at least two microphones of saidaudio system at least one of: a) accesses a component of said electroniccircuitry of said interior rearview mirror assembly, and b) shares acomponent of said electronic circuitry of said interior rearview mirrorassembly.
 64. The mirror-based audio system of claim 63, wherein saidelectronic circuitry is associated with at least one mirror-basedaccessory selected from the group consisting of a global positioningsystem antenna, a motion sensor, a rain sensor, a video device, aninterior light of the vehicle, an automatic toll booth transducer, asecurity system status indicator, a compass, a compass sensor, atemperature display, a temperature sensor, a tire pressure indicatordisplay, a seat occupancy detection antenna, a seat occupancy detectiontransducer and a loudspeaker.
 65. The mirror-based audio system of claim45, wherein said interior rearview mirror system controls a mechatronicelement.
 66. The mirror-based audio system of claim 45, wherein saidinterior rearview mirror system communicates with devices or componentsin the vehicle via at least one of a network and a multiplex system. 67.A mirror-based audio system for a vehicle comprising: an interiorrearview mirror system including an interior rearview mirror assembly,said interior rearview mirror assembly including a reflector element;said interior rearview mirror system including a plurality ofmicrophones for receiving audio signals within a cabin of the vehicle,said plurality of microphones comprising at least two microphones whichgenerate output signals indicative of sound generated within the vehiclecabin, said at least two microphones being one of (i) positioned withinsaid interior rearview mirror assembly, (ii) positioned adjacent to saidinterior rearview mirror assembly, (iii) positioned in an attachment tosaid interior rearview mirror assembly, and (iv) positioned within amodule mounted to a windshield of the vehicle; said audio system furthercomprising a control operable to distinguish the presence of vocalsignals versus non-vocal signals and to at least partially filter outsaid non-vocal signals, said non-vocal signals originating from at leastone noise source selected from the group consisting of engine noise,road noise, wind noise, HVAC noise, a radio and a turn signal; saidaudio system distinguishing said vocal signals received at said at leasttwo microphones from said non-vocal signals by a ratio of at least 2:1;and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly further includes atleast one control input for at least one accessory of the vehicle, saidat least one accessory of the vehicle comprises at least one of a mapreading light, a temperature display, a compass display, a globalpositioning system antenna, a rain sensor, a video system, a tirepressure display and a security system.
 68. The mirror-based audiosystem of claim 67, wherein at least one of said at least twomicrophones is directed toward an area encompassing the general locationof a head of a driver of the vehicle.
 69. The mirror-based audio systemof claim 68, wherein said audio system distinguishes said vocal signalsreceived at said at least two microphones from said non-vocal signals bya ratio of at least 10:1.
 70. The mirror-based audio system of claim 68,wherein said at least one of said at least two microphones comprises asingle directional microphone and is fixedly mounted and directed towardthe area encompassing the general location of a head of a driver of thevehicle.
 71. The mirror-based audio system of claim 68, wherein said atleast two microphones are positioned within a module mounted to thewindshield, said module being positioned between said interior rearviewmirror assembly and a headliner extending along an upper edge of thewindshield.
 72. The mirror-based audio system of claim 67, wherein saidcontrol is operable to select at least one of said output signals fromat least one of said at least two microphones and to provide the atleast one selected output signal to said audio system.
 73. Themirror-based audio system of claim 67 further including an indicatoroperable to indicate when said vocal signals are being adequatelydistinguished by said control.
 74. The mirror-based audio system ofclaim 67, wherein said at least one accessory of the vehicle comprises avideo system.
 75. The mirror-based audio system of claim 67, whereinsaid interior rearview mirror system further includes at least onemirror-based accessory.
 76. The mirror-based audio system of claim 75,wherein said at least one mirror-based accessory comprises at least oneof a global positioning system antenna, a motion sensor, a rain sensor,a video device, an interior light of the vehicle, an automatic tollbooth transducer, a security system status indicator, a compass, acompass sensor, a temperature display, a temperature sensor, a tirepressure indicator display, a seat occupancy detection antenna, a seatoccupancy detection transducer and a loudspeaker.
 77. The mirror-basedaudio system of claim 75, wherein said at least one mirror-basedaccessory is one of (i) positioned within said interior rearview mirrorassembly, (ii) positioned adjacent to said interior rearview mirrorassembly, (iii) positioned in an attachment to said interior rearviewmirror assembly, and (iv) positioned within a module mounted to thewindshield.
 78. The mirror-based audio system of claim 67 furthercomprising at least a portion of at least one of a cellular telephonesystem, an emergency communication system and an audio recording system.79. The mirror-based audio system of claim 67 further including anillumination source for a vehicle security system.
 80. The mirror-basedaudio system of claim 79, wherein said illumination source for a vehiclesecurity system is one of (i) positioned within said interior rearviewmirror assembly, (ii) positioned adjacent to said interior rearviewmirror assembly, (iii) positioned in an attachment to said interiorrearview mirror assembly, and (iv) positioned within a module mounted tothe windshield.
 81. The mirror-based audio system of claim 67, whereinsaid interior rearview mirror assembly further includes a video device.82. The mirror-based audio system of claim 81, wherein said video devicecomprises a CMOS imaging array.
 83. The mirror-based audio system ofclaim 67, wherein said reflector element comprises an electrochromicreflector element having electrically variable reflectivity.
 84. Themirror-based audio system of claim 83, wherein said interior rearviewmirror assembly includes electronic circuitry for at least adjusting thereflectivity of said electrochromic reflector element.
 85. Themirror-based audio system of claim 84, wherein at least one of said atleast two microphones of said audio system at least one of: a) accessesa component of said electronic circuitry of said interior rearviewmirror assembly, and b) shares a component of said electronic circuitryof said interior rearview mirror assembly.
 86. The mirror-based audiosystem of claim 85, wherein said electronic circuitry is associated withat least one mirror-based accessory selected from the group consistingof a global positioning system antenna, a motion sensor, a rain sensor,a video device, an interior light of the vehicle, an automatic tollbooth transducer, a security system status indicator, a compass, acompass sensor, a temperature display, a temperature sensor, a tirepressure indicator display, a seat occupancy detection antenna, a seatoccupancy detection transducer and a loudspeaker.
 87. The mirror-basedaudio system of claim 67, wherein said interior rearview mirror systemcontrols a mechatronic element.
 88. The mirror-based audio system ofclaim 67, wherein said interior rearview mirror system communicates withdevices or components in the vehicle via at least one of a network and amultiplex system.
 89. A mirror-based audio system for a vehiclecomprising: an interior rearview mirror system including an interiorrearview mirror assembly, said interior rearview mirror assemblyincluding a reflector element and wherein said reflector elementcomprises an electrochromic reflector element having electricallyvariable reflectivity; said interior rearview mirror system including aplurality of microphones for receiving audio signals within a cabin ofthe vehicle, said plurality of microphones comprising at least twomicrophones which generate output signals indicative of sound generatedwithin the vehicle cabin, said at least two microphones being one of (i)positioned within said interior rearview mirror assembly, (ii)positioned adjacent to said interior rearview mirror assembly, (iii)positioned in an attachment to said interior rearview mirror assembly,and (iv) positioned within a module mounted to a windshield of thevehicle; said audio system further comprising a control operable todistinguish the presence of vocal signals versus non-vocal signals andto at least partially filter out said non-vocal signals, said non-vocalsignals originating from at least one noise source selected from thegroup consisting of engine noise, road noise, wind noise, HVAC noise, aradio and a turn signal; said audio system distinguishing said vocalsignals received at said at least two microphones from said non-vocalsignals by a ratio of at least 2:1; and wherein said interior rearviewmirror system further includes at least one mirror-based accessory andsaid at least one mirror-based accessory comprises at least one of aglobal positioning system antenna, a motion sensor, a rain sensor, avideo device, an interior light of the vehicle, an automatic toll boothtransducer, a security system status indicator, a compass, a compasssensor, a temperature display, a temperature sensor, a tire pressureindicator display, a seat occupancy detection antenna, a seat occupancydetection transducer and a loudspeaker.
 90. The mirror-based audiosystem of claim 89, wherein at least one of said at least twomicrophones is directed toward an area encompassing the general locationof a head of a driver of the vehicle.
 91. The mirror-based audio systemof claim 90, wherein said audio system distinguishes said vocal signalsreceived at said at least two microphones from said non-vocal signals bya ratio of at least 10:1.
 92. The mirror-based audio system of claim 90,wherein said at least one of said at least two microphones comprises asingle directional microphone and is fixedly mounted and directed towardthe area encompassing the general location of a head of a driver of thevehicle.
 93. The mirror-based audio system of claim 90, wherein said atleast two microphones are positioned within a module mounted to thewindshield, said module being positioned between said interior rearviewmirror assembly and a headliner extending along an upper edge of thewindshield.
 94. The mirror-based audio system of claim 89, wherein saidcontrol is operable to select at least one of said output signals fromat least one of said at least two microphones and to provide the atleast one selected output signal to said audio system.
 95. Themirror-based audio system of claim 89 further including an indicatoroperable to indicate when said vocal signals are being adequatelydistinguished by said control.
 96. The mirror-based audio system ofclaim 89, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly furtherincludes at least one control input for at least one accessory of thevehicle.
 97. The mirror-based audio system of claim 96, wherein said atleast one accessory of the vehicle comprises at least one of a mapreading light, a temperature display, a compass display, a globalpositioning system antenna, a rain sensor, a video system, a tirepressure display and a security system.
 98. The mirror-based audiosystem of claim 89, wherein said at least one mirror-based accessorycomprises a video device.
 99. The mirror-based audio system of claim 89,wherein said at least one mirror-based accessory comprises a compasssensor.
 100. The mirror-based audio system of claim 89, wherein said atleast one mirror-based accessory is one of (i) positioned within saidinterior rearview mirror assembly, (ii) positioned adjacent to saidinterior rearview mirror assembly, (iii) positioned in an attachment tosaid interior rearview mirror assembly, and (iv) positioned within amodule mounted to the windshield.
 101. The mirror-based audio system ofclaim 89 further comprising at least a portion of at least one of acellular telephone system, an emergency communication system and anaudio recording system.
 102. The mirror-based audio system of claim 89further including an illumination source for a vehicle security system.103. The mirror-based audio system of claim 102, wherein saidillumination source for a vehicle security system is one of (i)positioned within said interior rearview mirror assembly, (ii)positioned adjacent to said interior rearview mirror assembly, (iii)positioned in an attachment to said interior rearview mirror assembly,and (iv) positioned within a module mounted to the windshield.
 104. Themirror-based audio system of claim 89, wherein said interior rearviewmirror assembly further includes a video device.
 105. The mirror-basedaudio system of claim 104, wherein said video device comprises a CMOSimaging array.
 106. The mirror-based audio system of claim 89, whereinsaid interior rearview mirror assembly includes electronic circuitry forat least adjusting the reflectivity of said electrochromic reflectorelement.
 107. The mirror-based audio system of claim 106, wherein atleast one of said at least two microphones of said audio system at leastone of: a) accesses a component of said electronic circuitry of saidinterior rearview mirror assembly, and b) shares a component of saidelectronic circuitry of said interior rearview mirror assembly.
 108. Themirror-based audio system of claim 107, wherein said electroniccircuitry is associated with at least one mirror-based accessoryselected from the group consisting of a global positioning systemantenna, a motion sensor, a rain sensor, a video device, an interiorlight of the vehicle, an automatic toll booth transducer, a securitysystem status indicator, a compass, a compass sensor, a temperaturedisplay, a temperature sensor, a tire pressure indicator display, a seatoccupancy detection antenna, a seat occupancy detection transducer and aloudspeaker.
 109. The mirror-based audio system of claim 89, whereinsaid interior rearview mirror system controls a mechatronic element.110. The mirror-based audio system of claim 89, wherein said interiorrearview mirror system communicates with devices or components in thevehicle via at least one of a network and a multiplex system.